On Tuesday, October 7, 2025, the traditional Welcome Day was held for incoming Erasmus+ students who will be studying at the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula during the winter semester, at our Faculty as well. This year, the event took place at the new University campus at Negrijeva 6, specifically in the Aula Magna within the Faculty of Humanities. The event was organized by the Office for Partnership and Projects and was hosted by the Head of the Office, dr. Ivona Peternel, personally. After the welcome speech and basic information about the city and the University, students were introduced to the administrative procedures at our University and were provided with essential information related to their stay in Pula. Through their inspiring speeches, associate professor dr. Dean Sinković (Faculty of Economics and Tourism “Dr. Mijo Mirković”) and assistant professor dr. Robert Kurelić (Faculty of Humanities) emphasized the many benefits of the Erasmus+ program and the opportunities it offers. After the mentioned professors also presented their respective university constituents, the Erasmus+ students were briefly addressed by assistant professor dr. Alen Tafra as ECTS coordinator of the Faculty of Educational Sciences. This winter semester, the Faculty of Educational Sciences will host three Erasmus+ students: Anastasia Muin (Università degli Studi di Udine), María Toro Álvarez (Universidad de Sevilla), and Federica Natale (Università Degli Studi Suor Orsola Benincasa – Naples). We wish them great success in their studies at our University and a pleasant stay in Pula.      

This autumn, we successfully concluded the project Reconnect Science with the Blue Society - Blue-connect 2.0, the final activity of which was participation in the European Researchers' Night. This event traditionally connects science and the community, bringing research and learning closer to children, young people, and all curious visitors. The team of the Faculty of Educational Sciences held three imaginative, interactive workshops that aroused great interest among the youngest: 🔹 Shells in a sea of ​​sounds 🔹 Traditional games with shells 🔹 Shellfish in a bag The children had the opportunity to listen, play and absorb new knowledge, and we once again felt the power of science when shared with a smile, showing how important it is to grow together and encourage love for nature from an early age.

Dear students, colleagues and friends of science, We invite you to join us at the European Researchers' Night, which will be held on Friday, September 26, at the University Campus, from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM. 📚 The program includes: · Workshops for children and young people 👧🧒 · Lectures adapted to all ages 🎓 · Interactive presentations and meetings with scientists 👩‍🔬👨‍🔬 The goal of the event is to promote science and scientific work, and to stimulate curiosity and interest in research among all generations. Admission is free - bring your family, friends and come learn something new in a fun way.

From 8 to 12 September 2025 associate professor dr. Marina Diković from the Faculty of Educational Sciences, and assistant professor dr. Marlena Plavšić and dr. Edgar Buršić from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences visited the University of Trondheim in Norway (Norwegian University of Science and Technology – NTNU) as part of the Erasmus+ mobility – teaching and professional development. This resulted in an exchange of teachers, as associate professor dr. Knut Vesterdal from the same university in Trondheim visited the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula in October 2024. In Norway, dr. Vesterdal and our three professors held four lectures/workshops each. Professor Diković held interactive lectures on Citizenship Education in the Context of Croatia, Human Rights Education in a Global Context and Human Rights Education Course at the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula; Professor Plavšić conducted workshops on Values ​​and Human Rights and Teaching for Citizenship Education in Elementary Schools in the Region of Istria , and Professor Buršić held lectures on Social Class and Academic Ambitions, Class, Culture and Ambitions: Who Remains Behind and How to Cure War Wounds: Nonformal Human Rights Education in Civil Society. Moreover, as part of the Erasmus+ mobility, a seminar was organized with teachers who teach courses in education for human rights and in the field of pedagogical competences in order to exchange experiences from the two countries. Exchanges are useful for the training of professors in their fields, dissemination of ideas and examples of good practice.

With the aim of promoting the Erasmus + project Empowering Specialized Language Acquisition with Integrated AI (ELITE-AI), members of the project team of our University, full professor dr. Iva Blažević and Jelena Gugić, assistant, together with members of the project team of the University of Maribor, travelled to Pag on July 21, 2025, where they had an arranged meeting with employees of the University of Zadar who, especially after the workshop held in March, became interested in the project and the possibility of applying the knowledge gained so far in the project within their own teaching with students of philological study programmes.

The second transnational meeting of the project team involved in the Erasmus + project Empowering Specialized Language Acquisition with Integrated AI (ELITE-AI) was held at the University of Udine (Italy) from 7 to 9 July 2025. The members of the project team from our University are full professor dr. Iva Blažević and Jelena Gugić, assistant. Two intensive working days served as a platform for summarizing the work done in the first year of the project, when a review of recent research dealing with the application of artificial intelligence tools in foreign language teaching was started, a list of 100 tools was given, they were described and possible teaching activities in which they could be used were listed. As a result of the work in the first year of the project, a monograph will soon be published that will consolidate all the results of the work so far. The project partners have also prepared materials that will be applied in the second year of work, when the specific effectiveness of the use of artificial intelligence tools on the success of mastering the English language will be tested.

As part of the Erasmus+ Staff Mobility for Training program, dr. Kemal Caner Bayrakçi, Erasmus coordinator from Süleyman Demirel University in Isparta, Turkey, visited our Faculty last week. After exchanging experiences related to the Erasmus+ program and international cooperation at the faculty level in a conversation with the dean of the Faculty of Education, full professor dr. Ivana Paula Gortan-Carlin, and his colleague assistant professor dr. Alen Tafra – Erasmus coordinator at the faculty of Educational Sciences – dr. Bayrakçi got acquainted with the organization of the latter and other constituents of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula. Among other activities in dr. Bayrakçi's mobility program, we highlight his visit to the university's Office for Partnership and Projects, where he discussed with the head of the office dr. Ivona Peternel about the experiences of international cooperation at the level of the two universities and the possibilities of improving bilateral cooperation.

On Thursday 5th June 2025, the Dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences, dr. Ivana Paula Gortan-Carlin, full professor, participated in the opening ceremony of the international scientific and professional conference 21st Mate Demarin Days, which was held at the Faculty of Teacher Education in Zagreb - Department in Petrinja. The plenary lecture entitled Bridges of Understanding in Contemporary Society: Different Perceptions of the Education of Children and Youth with Behavioral Problems was held by dr. Mirjana Radetić-Paić, full professor, while dr. Alen Tafra, assistant professor, and dr. Marina Diković, associate professor, in co-authorship with Luana Kosanović, a student of the Doctoral Study New Educational Paradigms , also presented their papers. The conference provided an excellent opportunity for the exchange of scientific and professional opinions and the sharing of knowledge and experiences among domestic and international experts in the field of education. Next year's Mate Demarin Days will be held at our Faculty.  

As the final part of the research activities of the Jean Monnet module “Highlighting European Values in the Educational Thought” , conducted from the 2022 to 2024 academic years at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, the scientific monograph “EdUcators in the Classroom” has been published. The editors are assistant professor dr. Marin Beroš (Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar) and associate professor dr. Bruno Ćurko (Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Split). Published in English by the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, the monograph builds on the topics presented at the roundtable of the same name held in 2023 in Pula, as part of the International Scientific Conference 20th Mate Demarin Days . With its somewhat intriguing title, “EdUcators in the Classroom”, it points to research interdisciplinarity, bringing together scholars from various academic profiles and backgrounds whose insightful contributions relate to the broader theme of European values and associated topics such as democracy, solidarity, civic engagement, critical thinking, responsibility, and how these themes can inform and shape education and teaching practices. Following on from the HEVET project, the monograph draws on theoretical concepts from the philosophy of education and reflects on the challenges that education faces in the shifting social and political environment of the 21st century. While some challenges are universal and timeless (e.g., do we educate to meet the needs of our students or those of society?), other issues are strongly tied to our specific time and place. A philosophy of education appropriate for the 21st century must address social transformations that significantly impact the meaning of education, its aims, and its practices—particularly globalization, digitalization, cultural fragmentation, and transformation. Although primarily intended for scholars dealing with philosophy of education and pedagogy, “EdUcators in the Classroom” is also envisioned as a reference work for future generations of students interested in European themes in education. It is our hope that the combination of theoretical approaches and practical solutions will encourage and empower students to become EdUcators —not only teachers of European values, but also researchers in a shared endeavour with the children entrusted to their care. To support this aim, the book will remain openly accessible on the website of the Digital Repository of Juraj Dobrila University of Pula ( https://repozitorij.unipu.hr/islandora/object/unipu:10167 ).  

At the Faculty of Educational Sciences, as part of the Science Festival, a presentation and workshop titled Assistive Technology Network – What Can Help a Friend with Disabilities was held for young and preschool children from the “Zvončići,” “Žabice,” and “Perlice” groups of the Mali svijet Kindergarten. The aim of the activity was to introduce children to assistive technology, i.e., the use of various aids for children with developmental disabilities. Special emphasis was placed on showcasing scientific innovations in this field related to the IT sector. The session began with a child-friendly discussion and age-appropriate lecture, helping the children understand the basic needs and specific ways in which children with developmental challenges function. Next, children were shown how specific aids from the field of assistive technology work. In the final part of the activity, one group of children explored how to make an innovative tactile picture book for a visually impaired child, while another group studied how a communication wall works. They analysed the meaning of various pictograms and recorded voice messages that corresponded to them. The children also had the opportunity to try out different elements of assistive technology, such as communicators, switches, sensory integration rehabilitation equipment, and aids for the visually impaired. The lectures and workshops were designed and led by: Dr. Mirjana Radetić-Paić, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula Dr. Vanja Marković, pedagogue at the School for Upbringing and Education – Pula Lea Radolović, M.A. in Speech and Language Pathology, speech therapist at the School for Upbringing and Education – Pula Workshop collaborators: Tamara Stepančić, Principal of Mali svijet Kindergarten, Pula Sanja Čagalj Huber, M.A. in Rehabilitation Education, educational rehabilitator at Mali svijet Kindergarten, Pula Irena Brajković, psychologist at Mali svijet Kindergarten, Pula Azra Glavić, preschool teacher of the “Zvončići” group, Mali svijet Kindergarten Tea Percan, preschool teacher of the “Zvončići” group, Mali svijet Kindergarten Maja Kitak Lanča, preschool teacher of the “Žabice” group, Mali svijet Kindergarten Emina Kovač, preschool teacher of the “Žabice” group, Mali svijet Kindergarten Branka Marić, preschool teacher of the “Perlice” group, Mali svijet Kindergarten

As part of the Erasmus+ mobility programme for teaching staff, associate professor dr. İrem Namlı Altıntaş visited our faculty. Professor Namlı Altıntaş comes from Süleyman Demirel University of Isparta, Turkey, where she teaches courses related to philosophy and civic education at the Faculty of Educational Sciences. On Tuesday, May 6, she gave a lecture entitled "The Relationship between Professional Ethics and Critical Thinking" to 3rd-year students of the Teacher Study. Throughout the lecture, she argued in favor of the crucial importance of critical thinking in the professional practice of teachers, which she supported with examples of resolving ethical dilemmas in student assessment and sharing confidential information.

From 28 to 30 April 2025, the international conference INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS Children's and Youth Literature in the Context of War and Displacement: Comparative Perspectives between the 20th and 21st was held in Wuppertal (Germany) organized by Bergische Universität Wuppertal and in collaboration with Peter Hammer Verlag. The conference, which was held in a hybrid format, was attended by dr. Vjekoslava Jurdana, graduate student Mariela Tomičić and doctoral student Alen Klančar with a presentation of The Croatian Children's Magazine "Mladi Hrvat" Between the First Balkan War and World War I. as part of the inter-institutional scientific and research project Viktor Car Emin and his role in the development of Croatian education and children's literature in Istria (Faculty of Educational Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula and the Centre for Research on Children's Literature and Culture, Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Zagreb). The presentation of the young associates was followed by an inspired discussion.

As part of the Researchers' Night project (Reconnecting Science with the Blue Society – Blue-connect 2.0, I'm Researching), second-year students of the Teacher Study programme visited the Pula Aquarium, where they gained new knowledge about the marine and terrestrial world through an expertly guided tour. During the visit, the students observed various species characteristic of the Adriatic Sea, as well as those coming from warmer sea areas. Through interactive guidance, they learned about the biological characteristics, adaptation methods and ecological roles of individual organisms. In addition to marine species, the students also visited terrariums with terrestrial animals. The lecture on animal adaptations to climate change was particularly interesting. It provided insight into the current challenges of global change and the ability of organisms to survive in increasingly demanding conditions. During the activities the students were accompanied by dr.Ines Kovačić, who actively participates in the implementation of the Researchers' Night project.    

On Thursday, 24 April 2025, dr. Tilen Smajla from the University of Maribor (Slovenia) gave an engaging lecture in English to first-year Teacher Education students, titled Friends or Foes? Students' Perceptions of Using AI Tools in Foreign Language Learning and its Ethical Considerations. The lecture focused on students' perceptions of the use of artificial intelligence tools in foreign language teaching and learning. Ethical issues related to the use of AI were also discussed, followed by a debate on its usefulness. The lecture presented findings from the Erasmus+ project Empowering Specialized Language Acquisition with Integrated AI (ELITE-AI), in which the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula is a member.

Join a short lecture organized by the Faculty of Educational Sciences, ask questions, and share your thoughts with our representatives. May 5, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 6:00 PM Zoom link: https://unipu-hr.zoom.us/j/7623255694?omn=91577611985 Open to pupils, students, and all interested participants. You are warmly welcome!

The first Mathematical Street Festival in Pula was held on 24 April 2025 at King Tomislav Square, and it was organized by the Mathematical Society "Istra" with the support of the Croatian Mathematical Society Zagreb. The activities were led by Branka Antunović, PhD, Maja Kalebić, and Predrag Dukić, with the active participation of 6th-grade students from Vidikovac Elementary School and 4th-year students of the Teacher Education program at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula. Participants engaged in mathematical games and challenges such as assembling tangrams, solving number puzzles, creating geometric patterns using string art, designing Sudoku pictures, and solving 'matchstick' puzzles. The goal of the event was to popularize mathematics among children and young people, and the fun games at King Tomislav Square spontaneously attracted passers-by of all ages.

Luka Pongračić, a student from the first cohort of the New Educational Paradigms d octoral program at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, successfully defended his doctoral dissertation on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. The dissertation, titled "The Success of Developing Social Competences and Self-Perception of Typically Developing Students during Subject-Based Teaching in Elementary School Classrooms with Students with Disabilities," was written under the mentorship of Assistant Professor Aldo Špelić, PhD, from the Faculty of Educational Sciences, and co-mentorship of Professor Jurka Lepičnik Vodopivec, PhD, from the Faculty of Education, University of Primorska, Koper (Slovenia). Based on the results of his research, dr. Luka Pongračić developed a proposed model for preparing typically developing students to successfully face the challenges posed by peers with disabilities during early adolescent development in inclusive classrooms, promoting the formation of friendships and significantly enhancing the success of educational inclusion models.

Organized by the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, and as part of the Erasmus+ project DivA – Diversity in Action, learning, teaching, and training (LTT) activities were held from 14 to 18 April 2025, along with a professional conference titled "Multilingual Mosaic: The Power of Learning Across Cultures." The event brought together educators, teachers, researchers, and experts from Slovenia, Italy, Austria, and Croatia. Alongside dr. Kristina Riman and dr. Lorena Lazarić from the Faculty of Educational Sciences, partners participating included the Faculty of Education, University of Primorska in Koper (Slovenia), Libera Università di Bolzano and the University of Trento (Italy), and Pädagogische Hochschule Wien (Austria). The week-long activities began with an introductory meeting on Monday, April 14, where participants were given an overview of the project’s completed and upcoming activities, aimed at developing a cross-border digital platform for teacher education in multilingual and multicultural environments. Throughout the week, participants took part in a series of interactive lectures, visits, and workshops designed for students and partner guests. The program included presentations of educational work at the partner institutions and visits to educational establishments in Pula, including the Rin Tin Tin kindergarten and the Giuseppina Martinuzzi school, where participants observed classes and spoke with principals and teachers. On Thursday, April 17, an international scientific-professional conference, "Multilingual Mosaic: The Power of Learning Across Cultures," was held at the Italian Community Center in Pula. Through a series of professional presentations and thematic workshops, participants explored the challenges and practices of multilingual teaching at all educational levels. Topics included phonological awareness in children, kinesthetic approaches to language teaching, implicit and explicit learning, and drama methods in language education. The LTT week concluded on Friday, April 18, with a final meeting summarizing the activities carried out and highlighting the importance of continuing collaboration and applying the knowledge gained in both local and international educational contexts. In this way, the DivA LTT week in Pula once again demonstrated that linguistic and cultural diversity is not a barrier, but a source of richness and inspiration for educational communities across Europe.

On Tuesday, April 15 th , professor Ana Oliveira from ISEC Lisboa-Instituto Superior de Educação e Ciências de Lusboa and Professor Isabela Baltazar, who teaches at ISEC Lisboa and conducts scientific research at Universidade Nova de Lisboa, gave a lecture to first-year students of the and Preschool Education programme. The focus was on issues related to citizenship and civic education, and the students were also given an insight into contemporary approaches to education in Portugal. During the lecture, the professors presented their University, stimulating students' interest in Portuguese culture, the educational system, and Erasmus+ mobility opportunities.  

Students of the third year of the University integrated undergraduate and graduate Teacher Study, together with dr. Maja Ružić and dr. Sandra Kadum, participated in the online workshop and seminar “Teaching and Learning with GenAI in Higher Education” organized by The Media & Learning Association (MLA). The lectures were given by experts in the field of artificial intelligence in education, who encouraged the students to think differently about the role of AI in learning and teaching. Below are the lecturers and the titles of their lectures: Dovile Dudenaite, Media & Learning Association, Teaching And Learning With AI In Higher Education. Presentation of survey findings Marc Cleiren, Leiden University, The Netherlands, AI supported portfolio system: Learning My Way. Andy Thys, KU Leuven, Belgium, Fürth Manifesto on AI in Education .  

The jubilee 15 th year of the Poetry and music recital in the Croatian defenders’ hall, the Academy of Music concert hall (1 st floor) will be held on Friday, 11 th April 2025 at noon. Participating: soloists of the Academy of Music, Students of the Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Educational Sciences and Academy of Music, as well as teachers of the Faculty of Humanities. Recital organizer and mentor to interpreters: dr. Irena Mikulaco with the support of the Academy of Music in Pula. For the 15 th year in a row, dr. Irena Mikulaco (Faculty of Humanities, Juraj DobrilaUniversity of Pula) has been organizing poetry and music gatherings, usually and appropriately at the end of the winter and summer semesters, and this time on the occasion of the recent World Poetry Day (21 st March) and on the eve of University Day (16 th April). The theme of this recital is love. Participating in the poetry and music program are students of the Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Educational Sciences and the Academy of Music in Pula. Students will interpret poems by Croatian and foreign authors, in Croatian, English, German, Russian, Serbian and Spanish, in the original language and translated, as well as in the Chakavian and Kajkavian dialects. In a special block, student poets will present their own poems. In addition to students, the interpreters will also be teachers of the Faculty of Humanities. Through public performances, students are taught speech, language and culture, thus encouraged and stimulated to read even more and be active in the academic and wider social community. In the musical part of the program, students of the Academy of Music in Pula will perform Chopin, Rachmaninoff, Rimsky-Korsakov and Rossini.

As part of the Erasmus + mobility programme for teaching staff, associate professor dr. Burcu Durmaz visited our Faculty. Professor Durmaz comes from Süleyman Demirel University of Isparta, Turkey, where she teaches courses in the field of educational mathematics at the Faculty of Educational Sciences. On 20 March 2025 she gave a lecture entitled “Mathematics Teaching and Children's Literature Integration” to 4th-year students of the Teacher Study. In her lecture, she addressed the positive aspects of including children's literature in mathematics teaching, presented different ways of including works from children's literature in mathematics teaching, and shared examples of good practice with our students.

At the ceremony held on 7 March 2025 at the new university campus, the Faculty of Educational Sciences promoted 110 new graduates, symbolically marking the continuation of their professional journey towards educating new generations. The promotion was led by the dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences in Pula, full professor dr. Ivana Paula Gortan-Carlin, vice-dean of the Faculty, Associate professor Marina Diković, head of the Department of classroom teaching, Assistant professor dr. Danijela Blanuša Trošelj, head of the Department of early and preschool education, Associate professor dr. Sandra Kadum, and acting head of the Department of studies in the Italian language, dr. Ana Debeljuh Giudici. After the promotion of students of the university undergraduate and graduate study Early and Preschool Education and the university integrated undergraduate and graduate study Teacher Education in the Croatian language, promotions were held for students of the university integrated undergraduate and graduate study Teacher Education, the university undergraduate study Early and Preschool Education and the university graduate study Early and Preschool Education in the Italian language, as well as the professional study Preschool Education in the Croatian and Italian languages. We proudly saw off our graduates who will expand new horizons with their knowledge and dedication, and leave an indelible mark on the development of the education system and society as a whole. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mvAMhilnX3tRtzarjiaAxtCwVLc-OUyv?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1TJnULySvMpcd1prh_mdiJFC1ehxPeWNm?usp=sharing https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1wwDJgjv9tSo0niiNEl1d-nh8WIWV7QSL?usp=sharing

Tomorrow, on Friday, March 7, 2025, three graduation ceremonies will be held at the Faculty of Educational Sciences: At 9:30 AM  University undergraduate study Early and Preschool Education in the Croatian language At 11:30 AM University graduate study Early and Preschool Education in the Croatian language At 1:30 PM University integrated undergraduate and graduate Teacher study in the Croatian language University integrated undergraduate and graduate Teacher study in the Italian language University graduate study Early and Preschool Education in the Italian language University undergraduate study Early and Preschool Education in the Italian language Professional study Preschool Education in the Croatian and Italian language The promoters are: - Dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences in Pula, full professor dr. Ivana Paula Gortan-Carlin - Vice-Dean of the Faculty Associate professor dr. Marina Diković - Head of the Department of Classroom Teaching Assistant professor dr. Danijela Blanuša Trošelj - Head of the Department of Early and Preschool Education Associate professor dr. Sandra Kadum - Acting Head of the Department of studies in the Italian Language dr. Ana Debeljuh Giudici The program leaders are assistants Monika Terlević and Tamara Viktoria Prelac.

The Erasmus Welcome Day , which is a welcome event for Erasmus students who will stay at the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula during the summer term, was held on 4th March. On this occasion, students were given information related to their studies, the administrative process, as well as about the city of Pula and its sights. The students were welcomed by Ms. Alisa Tešlić from the Office for Partnership and Projects, librarian Mr. Aleksandar Ćatić and Erasmus coordinators representing the University constituents. After the lecture, the students continued socializing during a guided tour of the campus. Students were also offered a guided tour of the city and a free 45-hour Croatian language course at the basic level. During the summer term, Mario Antonio Silvestri from the University of Bologna (Italy) will be an Erasmus student at the Faculty of Educational Sciences.

The second edition of the snow spectacle UniSport Snow, the national university championship in snow volleyball in Gorski Kotar, brought to our university women's team consisting of Franka Lukežić (c), Erika Momić, Andrea Corazza and Helena Plazanić extraordinary success and the title of the best. The men's university team, Mateo-Marko Pauletić (c), Josip Rogalo, Gabriel Nadal and Martin Stjepić, won the national runner-up title. The teams were led by Josip Kovačić. Congratulations on these great results!

The Teaching Institute for Public Health of the County of Istria, in cooperation with the County of Istria, the City of Novigrad and the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Jurja Dobrila University of Pula, is organizing the 13th Scientific-Professional Conference of Preschool Institutions of the County of Istria, which will be held on 19 and 20 March 2025 in the Center for Manifestations and Culture at Rivarela 7, Novigrad. The topics of this year's conference are: Day 1 – transition from preschool institutions to school, children with developmental disabilities and technology in a positive sense; Day 2 – "Health Kindergarten" project, nutrition, physical activity and health. We kindly ask you to confirm your arrival at the meeting by 7 March 2025 through the online application via the link https://us18.list-manage.com/survey?u=b15f1f5f41de4166639b00a74&id=6c2094f3fc&attribution=false. During the registration of participants, Certificates of attendance will be issued to educators and professional associates and for the needs of professional chambers. The meeting does not foresee a registration fee. The contact person is Katarina Branežac (099 529 18 99)  e-mail: katarina.branezac@zzjziz.hr. We look forward to seeing you and are grateful for the support provided to our activities by your presence with the aim to promote and protect the health of preschool children.

On 12 February 2025, students and employees of the Faculty of Educational Sciences participated in the Career Fair, which is traditionally held in Poreč. Associate professor dr. Marina Diković, assistant Monika Terlević and students Nicol Modrušan and Emily Radošić presented the study programmes held at our Faculty to secondary school students. They were interested in the possibilities of enrolling and attending studies at the Faculty of Educational Sciences. We wish everyone loads of success during their further education, and we eagerly and happily await our future students in the upcoming academic year: https://www.glastistre.hr/istra/2025/02/13/bogata-ponuda-visokoobrazovnih-zanimanja-na-sajmu-u-porecu-983209  Do you want to join us and discover childhood and children's world? Visit our website: https://fooz.unipu.hr/fooz/upisi.

The 14 th conference of the European Society for Research in Mathematics Education (CERME14), a prestigious scientific gathering of researchers from Europe and the world, was held in Bolzano from 4 to 8 February 2025. CERME is known for its specific structure, which includes work in thematic working groups and CCC - professional networking aimed at communication, cooperation and collaboration. At this year's conference, which gathered 850 researchers from more than 50 countries, senior assistant dr. Branka Antunović presented a paper titled Applying Duval's Teaching Sequence to 7th-Grade Geometry: A Case Study on the Area of ​​a Disc . Presenting in the working group Learning and Teaching Geometry, within the subtopic Curriculum and Task Design, the author placed special emphasis on the importance of implementing scientific research into teaching practice. The participation in the conference in Bolzano resulted in the establishment of valuable contacts with international researchers, while the exchange of ideas and innovative approaches in teaching mathematics will enrich scientific and professional work and the quality of teaching with our students. CERME14 once again confirmed its mission – to build mathematical bridges today, for tomorrow. https://www.cerme14.it/photo-gallery/

Students of the third year of Early and Preschool Education and the fourth and fifth year of the University integrated undergraduate and graduate Teacher Study visited the Immaginario Scientifico - Museo della Scienza in Trieste on 28 January 2025. Thematic research areas related to motion, electrostatics, magnetism and electromagnetism, sounds, lights and shadows, mirrors and reflections, mathematics and logic, biology and perception.  The visit was organized as part of the subject courses Environmental Methodology and Basic Mathematical Concepts 2, Mathematical Methodology 2 and Theory of Preschool Education, and was carried out by associate professor dr. Sandra Kadum, assistant professor dr. Danijela Blanuša Trošelj, assistant professor dr. Breza Žižović, dr. Branka Antunović and Tamara Brussich. The students had the opportunity to get to know the planetarium and laboratory spaces for the discovery of natural phenomena, the most innovative applications of science and research activities of the institutions of the scientific system of the city of Trieste, and after the tour they participated in creative workshops.

The volleyball qualifiers for the UniSport Finals, held on 1 and 15 January in Zadar on the grounds of the Višnjik Sports Center, resulted in the qualification for the national finals, which will take place from 30 May to 2 June 2025. The university team, formed by students from the Faculty of Educational Sciences as well, was represented by Franka Lukežić (c), Morena Gaber, Erika Momić, Ena Prnjavorac, Danijela Novaković, Lara Škoro, Anja Kaurić, Andrea Corazza, Helena Plazanić, Elena Lukašić , Katja Marinčić and Mia Piškulić. Coordination, concentration and bravery confirm the potential of a generation that has achieved outstanding results in numerous competitions. We are proud of all the participants!

On 15 th January 2025 the third-year students of the integrated undergraduate and graduate Teacher Study (Informatics module), together with full professor dr. Maja Ružić, associate professor dr. Andrea Debeljuh, and Janko Žufić, senior lecturer, participated in workshops and lectures as part of the project "STEMming from the Stars!" approved by the Ministry of Science, Education and Youth. The Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula, led by full professor dr. Maja Ružić and associate professor dr. Sandra Kadum, is a partner in the project. Under the supervision of educators from the Višnjan Science Education Centre, Ivo Forkapa and Danko Marušić, the students conducted two STEM workshops designed for lower primary school. After completing the workshops, they visited the Višnjan Observatory and attended a lecture by professor Korado Korlević on artificial intelligence, bioinformatics, the STEM field, and gifted students.

At the international university sports tournament Vedran Jelavić Memorial held in Dubrovnik, the women’s volleyball team of the University achieved an outstanding result by winning the silver medal. The team was composed of students Franka Lukežić, Morena Gaber, Erika Momić, Helena Plazanić, Marija Jeromela, Ena Prnjavorac, Elena Lukašić, Erin Rupčić, Andrea Corazza, Danijela Novaković, and Mia Piškulić, under the expert guidance of Josip Kovačić and dr. Loris Benassi. This silver medal is yet another testament to the dedication and determination of our team, of which we are extremely proud!

After the study trip of the dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences, full professor dr. Ivana Paula Gortan-Carlin, a partnership was established in Madrid that enables students to go on an Erasmus+ internship. The institutions that offer this opportunity for early and preschool education and primary teaching practice are: - Colegio Reggio - C. de San Enrique de Ossó, 48, Hortaleza, 28055 Madrid, Spain - Public school Gonzalo Fernandez de Cordoba C. Adanero, 3B, Latina, 28024 Madrid, Spain (Bilingual Centre for Early Childhood and Primary Education). Below is a link with detailed instructions, and for additional help you can contact the ECTS coordinator of the Faculty of Educational Sciences, assistant professor dr. Alen Tafra.

The dean of the Faculty of Educational Sciences, full professor dr. Ivana Paula Gortan-Carlin, awarded distinguished students for their exceptional achievement and significant contribution to academic and social life in the 2023/2024 academic year: Bojana Simić, University integrated undergraduate and graduate teacher stud, for the best average grade and 61 ECTS credits Lara Korva, part-time University graduate study Early and preschool education Linda Villanovich, University undergraduate study Early and preschool education in the Italian language Anja Demarin Špigić, part-time University undergraduate study Early and preschool education Mihaela Čmarec, University undergraduate study Early and preschool education Aurora Visintin, University integrated undergraduate and graduate teacher study in the Italian language Sincere congratulations to our students on their success! We wish them continued excellence in their academic and professional careers.

Children's creative centre Teatar Naranča was filled with children's smiles and warm sounds that, connecting all generations with music, created an atmosphere of joy and togetherness. The New Year's concerts were organized by students of the Teacher study and Early and preschool education in the Croatian and Italian language under the expert mentorship of full professor dr. Ivana-Paula Gortan-Carlin, M.Sc. Branko Radić, assistant professor dr. Anita Gergorić and dr. Anna Debeljuh Giudici. The special programme was enriched by the children of the Kindergarten "Mali svijet" in Pula, the Kindergarten - Scuola dell'infanzia "Rin tin tin", as well as the pupils of the Elementary School - Scuola elementare "Giuseppina Martinuzzi" and the Centar Elementary School, whose performances brought a special cheerfulness that exuded the whole event. We would like to thank all the mentors and educators for the inspiring, creative cooperation, as well as the director of the Kindergarten "Mali svijet" Tamara Stepančić and the pedagogue Petra Jureša, the director of the Kindergarten – Scuola dell’infanzia "Rin tin tin" Serena Sirotić, the headmaster of the Elementary School Centar Ljiljana Glad-Racan and of the Elementary School – Scuaola Elementare "Giuseppina Martinuzzi"  Luka Brussich whose support and engagement make projects like this possible and successful.

The Open Day of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula took place in an extremely positive professional atmosphere where numerous visitors obtained information important for the choice of the desired study programme. We are deeply thankful to all graduates and their teachers for coming and expressing such an interest in the study programmes offered by the Faculty of Educational Sciences. We are delighted and motivated by your enthusiasm and curiosity!  

The first international meeting of the Erasmus + project Empowering Specialized Language Acquisition with Integrated AI (ELITE-AI) was held in the city of Braşov, Romania, from17 to 19 October 2024. The Transylvania University of Braşov is the leader of the project, while the meeting was also attended by universities from partner countries - the University of Maribor (SLO), the University of Udine (I) and the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Jurja Dobrila University of Pula. Besides the fact that the meeting laid the foundation for work on the project and the individual tasks that each institution must fulfill, it was an opportunity for the members of the project teams to get to know each other better and to connect more easily in the future in order to fulfill the set goals as efficiently as possible. In addition to the work part of the project, the hosts introduced the partners to the most valuable destinations in the region of Translyvania, and among the most famous is the Bran Castle, known for the fact that Vlad III of Wallachia, the role model for the Irish writer Bram Stoker in creating the main character of his novel Dracula from 1897, lived there.

4th Student Film Review, organized by the Faculty of Educational and Sport Sciences, will take place at Kino Valli on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, starting at 13:00. The event is open to the public and free of charge. 10 films created by third-year students of the Učiteljski studij Audio and Video Processing program will be showcased. The theme of this year's Review is freedom - easily understandable, yet so hard to achieve

From 7 to 11 October 2024 associate professor dr. Knut Vesterdal from the Faculty of Teacher Education of the University of Trondheim in Norway participated in the Erasmus programme for teacher mobility at the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Jurja Dobrila University of Pula. He was active at the Orientation Day for first-year students and participated in working meetings with the representative of the Office for Integration and Intercultural Projects, dr. Ivona Peternel and our vice dean, associate professor dr. Marina Diković, with assistant professor dr. Marlena Plavšić and dr. Edgar Buršić. During his stay at the Faculty, he shared his knowledge and experience on human rights with second-year students of the university integrated undergraduate and graduate Teacher Study, actively participated in the teaching of the Sociology of Education course, as well as in a round table with students in collaboration with professor Edgar Buršić. With our Faculty’s professors, assistant professor dr. Irena Kiss, assistant professor dr. Alen Tafra, dr. Renata Martinčić-Marić and assistant Monika Terlević, he held a constructive discussion about the educational system in Norway and the Republic of Croatia, considering their contextual characteristics. The synergy of teachers' work continuously encourages networking and sharing experiences and knowledge for the purpose of improving the teaching and scientific work of employees, as well as theoretical and practical activities with students.

On Tuesday 8 October 2024, a Welcome Day was held for foreign Erasmus students who will be staying at the Jurja Dobrila University of Pula this winter semester - including our Faculty. This year, the venue of the event was the Cafe area in the Student Dorm. The event was organized by the Office for Partnerships and Projects, and was led by expert associate Alisa Tešić. After they were extended welcome and given basic information about the city and the University, the students were introduced to the administrative procedure at our University and provided with the necessary information related to their stay in a foreign country. After the presentation of the Office for Students, ECTS coordinators from various constituents of the University introduced themselves, and the ECTS coordinator associate professor dr. Alen Tafra briefly addressed the students on behalf of the Faculty of Educational Sciences.. After the students were presented with the possibilities of using the libraries at the University, the local students took the visiting students on a tour of the Campus and the city. This winter semester, the following Erasmus+ students will study at the Faculty of Educational Sciences: Rogelio Cirera Aparicio (Universidad de Almeria), Beatriz Orta Fernández (Universidad de Sevilla), Lidia Ruiz Cuesta (Universidad de Sevilla) - all from Spain - as well as Joshua Grünhagen (Universität Vechta) from Germany.

  The Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Jurja Dobrila University of Pula participates in the Erasmus + project Empowering Specialized Language Acquisition with Integrated AI (ELITE-AI). The Faculty members in the project team are dr. Iva Blažević and Jelena Gugić, teaching assistant. The project holder is the Transylvania University in Braşov (RO), and the partner institutions are the University of Maribor (SLO), the University of Udine (I) and the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Jurja Dobrila University of Pula. The duration of the project is two years, from 1 September 2024 to 31 August 2026. The project aims to modernize the acquisition of foreign languages ​​by integrating tools for digital education and artificial intelligence in the academic environment, and to enable researchers, teachers and students to develop the skills necessary to adapt to modern educational practices. The project specifically targets professional languages ​​that develop the skills needed by working individuals in order to be able to operate efficiently in a modern working environment. The project supports digital and sustainable initiatives in higher education with a special emphasis on digital transformation, and students are empowered for the challenges of language acquisition (especially the language of the profession) in the digital age, which leads to the improvement of teaching practices in the teaching and acquisition of foreign languages. One of the ultimate goals of the project is to create a database that would include resources provided by artificial intelligence for the purpose of teaching vocational languages ​​and to develop online resources for teaching, learning and evaluating knowledge. Artificial intelligence will be incorporated into the practical activities of teaching foreign languages ​​and enable the recognition of examples of good practice, all after the implementation of the practical exercises and methodical materials created during the project.  

This year’s Researchers’ Night in Pula was held on 27 September 2024. It covered a wide range of scientific areas and was exceptionally visited. More than 400 participants had the opportunity to get to know the University premises and participate in different workshops. At the Faculty of Educational Sciences, full professor Iva Blažević, associate professor, Ivana Paula Gortan Carlin, assistant professor Lorena Lazarić, dr. Branka Antunović and Janko Žufić, senior lecturer were engaged in the project, and a great contribution was given by our graduate students Monika Kovač, Iva Matošević and Viktoria Ukotić, as well as by our former student Matej Macakanja. Commercial types of shellfish in the Republic of Croatia, as well as alternative types appearing in conditions of climate change were presented in the Researchers’ night 2024. By playing the game “Finding Nemo” participants had the opportunity to meet AI robots, while the workshop “Marine kleptomaniacs” introduced them to single live organisms and they learned how naked sea snails “steal” cnidocytes and chloroplasts from other organisms and incorporate them in their tissues for nutrition and defence purposes. The problem area of invasiveness of the green alga Caulerpa and the possible measures for its removal and economic use were presented. In the EU corner, visitors used the microscope to observe everyday things (sugar and salt crystals, grains of sand and leaves) and participated in the conduction of short and simple scientific experiments named “Double vision”, “Water layer” and “Invisible ink”. The youngest visitors enjoyed in the very successful archaeological playroom where, by playing in the sandpit, they learned how archaeological sites are formed, and what and how arcaeologists study. They found their first artifacts and ecofacts and observed them using the stereomicroscope. The European Researchers’ Night, as part of the Blue Connect project, was successfully held at the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula for the fourth time.